Australian Gourmet Traveller - (07)July 2019 (1)

Getting there

AirNewZealandfliesdirecttoWellington

fromSydneyupto 12 timesa week;from

Brisbaneuptofivetimesa week;andfrom

Melbourneuptoseventimesa weekwith

regularconnectionstoBlenheiminthe

heartoftheMarlboroughwine region.

airnewzealand.com.au

Stay

TheMarlboroughLodgeThisformer

conventreopenedin 2016 asa luxurylodge

with 10 guestroomsona propertyofmore

thansixhectaresamidthevineyards,

10 minutes’drivefromBlenheimairport.

It’sadjacenttotheRapauraTennisCluband

hasa swimmingpoolopeninthewarmer

months.Thelodgeis welllocatedfortours

ofcellardoorsandcanarrangeregional

tours.From$1600a night,twinshare,

includingbreakfast,pre-dinnerdrinks

andcanapés,andmulti-coursedinnerwith

matchedwine. 776 RapauraRd,Marlborough,

themarlboroughlodge.co.nz

TheBellToweronDogPointThisboutique

luxury accommodation on the western

Trip

notes

hillsideofDogPointVineyardincludestwo

privateroomsinthemainhouse,eachwith

ensuite,ortheadjacentself-contained

FrenchBarn,whichsleepsfive.DogPoint

Vineyardis openfortastingsbyappointment

only.Roomsfrom$500.71 Brookby

Rd,Fairhall,dogpoint.co.nz/stay

Wine

FraminghamThehomeofoffbeataromatic

wines,a punksoundtrackandwineryband

theRenwickNudes,thiswineryhostsharvest

parties,cellargigsandartevents. 19 Conders

BendRd,Renwick,framingham.co.nz

NautilusThiswinerywonthevarietaltrophy

atthe 2018 NewZealandWineoftheYear

AwardsforitsbiscuityCuvéeMéthode

Traditionnelle,justonemoretoaddtoits

mantelpiece.Itscellardoor,rankedamong

theregion’sbest,is opendailyallyear

round;personaltoursofthewinerycan

bebookedinadvance. 12 RapauraRd,

Renwick,nautilusestate.com

ScotchWineBar& WineShopBuzzingwith

thebrioofBlenheim’syoung,thoroughly

international wine industry, the star of this

winebaris a 2000-strongcellaranda list

builtaroundvigneronstakingtheroadless

travelled.It’sablybackedbya share-friendly

menubasedonMiddleEasternflavours.

24-26MaxwellRd,Blenheim,scotchbar.co.nz

WairauRiverWinesAnexcellentlunchtime

option,thewineryis openfortastings

andlunchdaily.Samplethefamily-owned

estate’swines,includinggewürztraminerand

albariño,beforeorwithlunchin thegarden.

11 RapauraRd, Rapaura, wairauriverwines.com

Tour

MarlboroughTourCompanyThis

family-runbusinessoffershalf-and

whole-daytoursoftheregion’swineries,

aswellasseafoodtoursbyboat.

marlboroughtourcompany.co.nz

WildernessGuidesA one-stopshopfor

exploringtheMarlboroughSoundsand

QueenCharlotteTrack,whetherbyfoot,

mountainbikeorkayak.Theyrunguided

toursandofferequipmentrental.The

Waterfront, Picton, wildernessguidesnz.com

TheQueenCharlotte
SoundBeachcomber
ferrystop.Opposite:
wine-tasting,and
therestaurant,at
Hans Herzog.